European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Huge crowds As Here in Leipzig have come to hear West German politicians such As social Democrat Willy Brandt Campaign for East German parties. Adventures in the East by de Reavis staff writer overing East Germany is an assignment filled with adventures one would never dream of. During a recent visit to the country i kept a diary of those adventures. Excerpts of my diary follow. Feb. 23 photographer Scott Miller and i arrive at the Border crossing from West Germany to East Germany at Hirschberg near Hof. We encounter visa problems right away because we arrived at the wrong Border crossing. We should have crossed at Plauen As planned with the ministry in East Berlin. Our first Stop after checking into the i Zeitz a town about 15 Miles North of Gen Road to Leipzig. Use and Martin Hafermann my wife or await with a table richly decked out with sausage products made in the state of i Quot the Beer i got from the russians us Quot they have the Best German Beer in Tow breweries closed because they lacked h other ingredients. Can you believe that Quot i told a Friend who works in the Russi commissary Here in town that we were h special guests tonight and she said to to have Good Beer and arranged it. But an East German official quickly comes to the Rescue. Quot no problem Quot he said. Quot what do you need Quot heaps of rubbish defacing the Countryside Are common sights in Southern area of East Germany. East German officials have been transformed from impolite unbending bureaucrats into relaxed smiling human beings. Quot it s Friday afternoon Quot the official said Quot lets not even try to get Berlin involved in All this. How Long do you want to stay Quot with our visas in hand we travel to Gera where we Are staying in a hotel that is part of the East German inter hotel Chain. The rooms Are comfortable but As Small As cells. The Price is 114 West German Marks about $84 for each room. Feb. 24 we Are in Leipzig to attend the East 6 social democrats party convention w i it being held on the outskirts of the City the East Mark is being traded at Ano of 1 to 3. Clusters of East germans hang the International hotels offering five As Marks for one West German Mark. One can buy seven or eight East for one West German Mark in Wes and Exchange markets. A meal in an inter hotel hotel costs any from 7 to 25 East German Marks because of such Low prices Wes flooding the country. In the bar o too Cong me country m h Gera they Are not especially Impie Uera Mey Cue i ii Chinn some loudly complain about eve y a a a the stars and stripes saturday